BTW, imho LED's are far prettier to watch than fire ever was/is. I also hear that from the audience, but it's the danger the audience likes because people are sadistic.
so you're being a masochist and as such forming a co-dependency?
Personally I feel a basic connection to the element of fire and LED will never give me the satisfaction that I felt when spinning/ performing with fire.
In contrast to what you're describing as your own motive, audience response has never been my prime focus and I perform(ed) with fire because I enjoy(ed) doing it. As over the years it became more of that "dirty chore" you're describing I slowly faded out on it.
As I feel it does belong here I'm merging my response from
this thread too... though it makes my post rather lengthy...
The problem with dry fuels is that they aren't flammable, they are explosive. Flames can be controlled, to a lesser degree. Explosions can not. I've seen it and it's really fargin scary and just as dangerous as liquid, if not more.
Remember just because you haven't experienced it doesn't mean it hasn't happened or that it's safe.
Tom, please tell me you're being fascetious when asking why not using lycopodium for this? Please?
you mean "facetious"?
your word sounds little bit of a mix of "funny" and "fascist"
But no ma'm, I'm not. I've used it myself and the advantages of Lycopodium (and as in "solid fuels") vs. kerosene (as in "any other liquid") are:
1) that it does not contain any of the latter:
* a mixture of organic hydrocarbons like toluene and benzene. (which are quickly absorbed by the body and the brain)
* lead (which is absorbed by bone and fat in the brain and body and can stay there for 10 years)
[
sic: I have earlier pointed out an article on petrol sniffing and I'm aware that the exposure to the content of petrol during 
Fire Breathing is far lower than whilst it's getting sniffed... please get the full article of ABC net here]
1-1) thus making it toxic, with the potential to cause short term effects such as
* hallucinations
* aggression
* increased libido [but who would mind that?
]
* hunger
* lack of coordination, staggering
* disorientation
* slurred speech
* coughing, wheezing
* vomiting
* slow reflexes
1-2) and long term effects such as in damaging
* brain
* kidneys
* liver
* immune system
* heart and lungs
2) that it is *umm* well, that: "solid" and as such not adhering to surfaces in the same way as "liquids".
Thus its potential to ignite other matter is far smaller.
The problem with dry fuels is that they aren't flammable, they are explosive. Flames can be controlled, to a lesser degree.
Whilst it is IMHO correct to say that flames as such are not as easy to control there is something wrong in your equation: Lycopodium or any such powder itself is not explosive (vs. fuel) - it is combustible due to the amount of particles and their distribution in the air. As this event is not taking place in an enclosed (very limited) environment, its potential hazards should be inferior to that of fuel.
For example "backfiring" should not occur, as the combustion depends on the distribution and amount...
3) Personally I have only heard of
one accident that happened with Lycopodium, in which a friend blew it out of a prepared pipe whilst igniting it... only having forgotten to remove the "lid" (a cloth), which caused 2nd degree burns on a spectator.
Not saying that no other accidents happened - only they never got to my notice. [sic: You're welcome to point them out, if you got more]
Where on the other hand numerous accidents (that I heard of) have happened with liquids - you may remember a few reports yourself - in which performers AND/OR audiences sustained grievous injuries.
Apart from instances in which entire venues were set ablaze and the audience got trapped inside.
Two acquaintances got seriously injured. Both had been professional and very experienced. One chose a highly flammable liquid, resulting in the flame to backfire and another fell unconscious
a day after a successful performance as from microscopic amounts entering his lungs.
4) when
Fire Breathing one goes through significant amounts of fossil fuels - heeps more than required for a spin.
Anyone remotely concerned and considerate about the environment will ultimately cut back on his carbon footprint... or... "could"
I am almost certain that in my lifetime I will experience a tough regulation on fire performances/ performances incorporating fire. For one because of the latent stupidity of some performers and the fascination of the audience, merged with complete ignorance to the facts, files and necessary safety precautions.
There are two types of fire performers: bold performers and old performers
- no pun intended, but I regard it as a skilled choice to limit potential and actual harm to ones self, the audience and the environment.
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